Marvel Pays millions to Royal Family for filming at Windsor Great Park; Thor returns for a New Adventure in ‘King & Country'
Marvel Studios is reportedly spending millions to film the next Avengers installment at Windsor Great Park—one of the UK's most historic royal estates. The blockbuster will feature
Chris Hemsworth
's Thor in a storyline titled King & Country, alongside returning fan favorites Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto and Tom Hiddleston as Loki.
Royal Approval and Windsor Access
According to The Herald Sun, King Charles—who serves as Ranger of Windsor Great Park—was informed about the project, even though he was at Balmoral during filming preparations. While the exact sum paid by Disney-owned Marvel Studios remains undisclosed, insiders say the amount runs into several million pounds.
Revenue That Benefits the Crown
Windsor Great Park is owned by the Crown Estate, of which the King receives 25% of annual profits. The filming fees paid by Marvel will go toward the park's maintenance and upkeep, making this a mutually beneficial arrangement.
As one source put it, 'several million pounds is chicken feed to Marvel when their movies make billions.'
Royal Family's Film Ties
The Royal Family has long shown interest in cinematic ventures. King Charles, a patron of the British Film Institute, attended the Gladiator II premiere last year. Prince William has served as BAFTA's president since 2010. In 2023, William and Kate even took Prince George and Princess Charlotte to visit the sets of Amazon's The Rings of Power in Ascot.
Summer Filming with Star Power
Planning documents reveal that up to 300 cast and crew members will be on-site this summer. Two key sets—Luke Cage's house and Annie Reynolds' house—have been listed, although the exact scenes remain under wraps.
Annie Reynolds is speculated to be a new character, introduced as the mother of Sentry. In the meantime, Luke Cage, the superhero renowned for his tremendous strength and indestructible skin, has a house built in the American style of the 1960s. A Box Office Hit Deserving of Royal Attention With the global box office success of Avengers: Endgame at over £2 billion, anticipation for this next installment is great. Additionally, because the movie is being filmed almost in their backyard, insiders suggest that the Royal Family may even pay a surprise visit to the scene, possibly to see Thor brandishing his hammer once more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2026: Key dates and how to register for runDisney events
Jun 25, 2025 01:23 AM IST Attention Disney fans! We have some exciting news in store for you. The runDisney registration window for the Princess Half Marathon Weekend opens on June 24. How to register for runDisney events: All you need to know about the 2026 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend(runDisney) Participants get to live in the Walt Disney resort for five days and celebrate their journeys. The official description for the event, according to the runDisney website, reads: 'Every Disney Princess has been on her own unique and incredible journey. And during the 2026 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend runDisney® athletes can celebrate those journeys––and live their very own––over five fantastical days at Walt Disney Resort.' The event is scheduled from February 26 to March 2, 2026. runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend categories • Disney Princess 5K • Disney Princess 10K • Disney Princess Half Marathon • Disney Fairytale Challenge • Disney Princess Yoga How to register for runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend? People must log in to the official website of runDisney. Step 1: Open a browser of your choice and type or click on this link. Step 2: Click on Register Now Step 3: Now, sign up using an active email ID. Step 4: Enter all the details and click on submit. Step 5: Review your form before hitting the final button for the runDisney Princess Half Marathon. Voila! Your registration is completed. More about the runDisney Marathon Participants get the chance to run 'across our theme parks, see beloved Disney Characters, enjoy special moments and receive commemorative medals to celebrate the accomplishments.' FAQs: What is runDisney marathon? The marathon celebrates your journey as an athlete. What are the timings for runDisney marathon? The marathon will begin from February 26 to March 2, 2026. When will the registration for runDisney marathon begin? The runDisney marathon registration will start on June 24.
Mint
6 hours ago
- Mint
‘Ironheart' REVIEW: A visually slick but emotionally flat Marvel series that shows promise too late in the game
Marvel Studios' 'Ironheart', the final chapter in Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, lands with a whimper more than a roar. Created by Chinaka Hodge and starring Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, the series sets itself up as a unique blend of science and sorcery. Unfortunately, what could've been an exciting fresh direction for Marvel TV ends up feeling like a well-polished but ultimately underwhelming instalment in an increasingly uneven phase. Picking up after the events of 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever', 'Ironheart' opens with Riri returning to her hometown of Chicago. There, she finds herself wrapped up in a conflict involving Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), aka The Hood — a character whose arc is meant to balance menace and tragedy, but who ultimately struggles to leave any significant impact. Dominique Thorne does a reliable job carrying the show as Riri, though much of the emotional range required from her is flattened by uneven pacing and inconsistent character development. Thorne's portrayal is earnest, but the script doesn't give her nearly enough breathing room to mature her identity beyond the genius inventor mould. We're told she's exceptional; we're rarely shown how that truly sets her apart. And no, I do not mean, building suits and being an inventor. Anthony Ramos, meanwhile, has the unenviable task of portraying a man descending into darkness. Robbins is supposed to be layered — part villain, part victim — but what we get is a character who seems more irritated than tormented. His performance never quite connects emotionally; viewers are unlikely to feel the inner conflict the writers clearly intended. You neither hate him, love him, nor particularly fear him. And for a primary antagonist — or at least someone positioned as one for the bulk of the runtime — that's a glaring issue. The show's standout, surprisingly, comes from Lyric Ross in a dual role as Riri's best friend and her AI companion Natalie. Ross brings much-needed vitality to the screen, often acting as the emotional anchor in scenes that might otherwise fall flat. She is lively, funny, and manages to humanise the technology around her with ease. The supporting cast — including Sonia Denis as Clown, Shakira Barrera and Zoe Terakes as the Blood siblings, and drag icon Shea Couleé as Slug — adds refreshing energy to the series. These characters, while not always well-written, feel fun and distinct, and inject a touch of whimsy that contrasts the otherwise serious tone. Clown, in particular, brings a sort of eccentricity that the MCU often lacks in its newer offerings. Sacha Baron Cohen's much-hyped appearance is reserved for the final episode, and while it's undoubtedly the series' highlight, it arrives far too late. His presence — cryptic, charismatic, and disruptive in all the right ways — hints at a bolder, more daring Marvel that the rest of 'Ironheart' shies away from. Visually, 'Ironheart' is more hit than miss. Riri's first suit, reminiscent of Tony Stark's early designs, evokes a nostalgic charm. It's rugged, industrial, and oddly endearing. The second, sleeker model is serviceable but lacks distinctiveness — the choice of a red makes it look more cartoonish than cutting-edge. CGI and VFX are commendably done. A particular moment when Riri's suit envelops her in mid-air to prevent an accident is both thrilling and visually impressive. It's one of the few times the series truly feels like a Marvel production in the best sense. Sadly, such standout moments are few and far between. The show's music serves its purpose but never becomes a character of its own. The background score complements the action and emotion but fails to leave a lasting impression. However, the musical cues used to depict Riri's stubborn independence are well-executed — even if her hyper-independence might strike some as grating before it becomes understandable. Episode six — with its fusion of magic and tech — finally pushes the boundary of what Marvel shows could do if they dared. It teases a kind of genre hybrid that the earlier episodes only flirt with, making one wish the rest of the series had the same confidence. 'Ironheart' isn't a disaster. It's competently made, decently acted, and has its moments of inspiration. But it never fully soars. It's the kind of show that makes you think: 'That could have been something special.' Instead, it settles for serviceable. For a series meant to usher in the next wave of genius-level superheroes, that's a shame. Marvel fans may find enough here to stay entertained — especially in the final episode — but it's unlikely to win over the sceptics or make a lasting dent in the Marvel canon. 'Ironheart' sparks, but rarely burns. The first three episodes of the show are now streaming on JioHotstar (Disney+). The second half of the show will hit the streaming platform on July 1.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Ironheart episodes 1 to 3 release date and time: Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams returns with new MCU chapter — all you need to know
Ironheart episodes 1 to 3 release date and time: Get ready, Marvel fans; Ironheart is finally gearing up for its big debut! The highly anticipated series is dropping its first three episodes all at once, and it is already gaining major hype on social media. Centred around Riri Williams, the teen genius who is set to carry on Tony Stark's tech legacy, this new Marvel show is being praised as one of the boldest and most refreshing origin stories the Marvel Cinematic Universe has tackled in a while. From early teasers to fan theories flooding social media, Ironheart hasn't even premiered yet, but it has already set the internet ablaze. If you've been counting down the days and now hours, here's everything you need to know, from the release date and timing to the exciting setup of Riri's journey. Ironheart: Meet RiRi Williams, the genius behind the armour Dominique Thorne returns as Riri Williams, the brilliant teenage inventor introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In Ironheart, fans will be able to dive deeper into her genius mind. From coding late into the night to tinkering with scraps and building her own version of the Iron Man suit from scratch in between, she's expected to keep fans entertained with her adventures. Just to be clear, she' not a Tony Stark clone; she's the next-gen powerhouse, solving problems with street smarts and steel. Ironheart: Who will be against Riri? Riri's tinkering attracts attention from both heroic and sinister forces. Anthony Ramos will star as the enigmatic villain Parker Robbins, aka The Hood: half con artist, half supernatural threat. Their first face-off is equal parts electric and dangerous. While Riri engineers her future, Parker taps on forbidden magic, setting the stage for a power struggle between tech and the occult. Who is behind the scenes? And what makes Ironheart even more promising is the team behind it. The first three episodes are directed by Sam Bailey, and the last three are handled by Angela Barne, both bringing their own unique style to the story. The show is written by Chinaka Hodge, who's known for her work on Snowpiercer, and she's leading the way in telling Riri's journey. Plus, big names like Kevin Feige and Ryan Coogler are producing it, along with Coogler's team at Proximity Media. What can fans expect from Ironheart? What fans can expect from Ironheart is something that honestly feels fresh for the MCU, a clash of worlds that shouldn't mix but somehow just works. On one side, we have got Riri's DIY genius unfolding in her MIT dorm, surrounded by scraps of tech, glowing blueprints, and a mind that never slows down. And then there's Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, who brings in a completely different mystical energy. The show leans into that tension between science and sorcery, turning it into this really textured story about figuring out who you are when the world sees you as a successor to Tony Stark, whether you asked for it or not. Ironheart episodes 1 to 3 release date and time Marvel knows the game is changing. Dropping three episodes on launch night keeps momentum high, which means no waiting around for weekly cliffhangers. Then, next Friday, Episodes 4–6 will hit together. Ironheart episodes 1-3 stream on June 24 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET in the U.S. on Disney+, landing just in time for prime-time bingeing. If you're watching from the UK, that means a late-night release at 2 AM BST on June 25, while fans in India can catch it fresh at 6:30 AM IST on Disney+ Hotstar. In Japan, it'll be out by 10 AM JST on June 25, and Australia will see it arrive around 11 AM AEST the same day. No matter where you are, the series is releasing globally within the same 24-hour window, so spoiler dodging might be a challenge. And don't worry, the second half (episodes 4 to 6) is dropping the following week on July 1, same time slot. MCU gearing up for next generation Ironheart closes out MCU Phase 5 with a fresh vision. Riri's journey challenges the legacy of Iron Man while projecting new possibilities for the MCU's future. By mixing tech, magic, and a youthful visionary lead, Marvel is planting seeds for the next generation of heroes, and we are here for it.
